U.S. patent application number 13/993987 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-02 for method and apparatus for restricting user operations when applied to cards or windows.
This patent application is currently assigned to Thomson Licensing. The applicant listed for this patent is Samir M. Ahmed, Basil Badawiyeh, John Frederick Bishop, James Earl Booth, Dan Han Diep, Dana Shawn Forte, Gregory Gudorf, Peter S. Lee, Vasil Nadzakov, David Pettigrew, Jason Douglas Pickesrsgill, Genevieve Marie Pinvidic, Kenneth Alan Rudman, Lee Douglas Shartzer, Hao Chi Tran, Mark Leroy Walker, Roger Yeh, Andrew Yoon. Invention is credited to Samir M. Ahmed, Basil Badawiyeh, John Frederick Bishop, James Earl Booth, Dan Han Diep, Dana Shawn Forte, Gregory Gudorf, Peter S. Lee, Vasil Nadzakov, David Pettigrew, Jason Douglas Pickesrsgill, Genevieve Marie Pinvidic, Kenneth Alan Rudman, Lee Douglas Shartzer, Hao Chi Tran, Mark Leroy Walker, Roger Yeh, Andrew Yoon.
Application Number | 20140298221 13/993987 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46314410 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140298221 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pickesrsgill; Jason Douglas ;
et al. |
October 2, 2014 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RESTRICTING USER OPERATIONS WHEN APPLIED
TO CARDS OR WINDOWS
Abstract
A user interface that displays a number of cards or windows is
described where a user can move the cards in a horizontal direction
freely. When a card resides in a locked zone, as defined by a user,
the card will be able to be manipulated in a vertical direction,
while cards that reside in a regular zone will not be able to be
moved vertically. In addition, only cards that are in the locked
zone can be subjected to a user action such as cutting content from
the card, pasting content to the card, enlarging the contents of
the card, or shrinking the contents of the card.
Inventors: |
Pickesrsgill; Jason Douglas;
(Los Angeles, CA) ; Gudorf; Gregory; (Sunland,
CA) ; Rudman; Kenneth Alan; (South Pasadena, CA)
; Nadzakov; Vasil; (Los Angeles, CA) ; Yoon;
Andrew; (Los Angeles, CA) ; Yeh; Roger; (San
Marino, CA) ; Badawiyeh; Basil; (Santa Clarita,
CA) ; Pinvidic; Genevieve Marie; (Burbank, CA)
; Forte; Dana Shawn; (Castaic, CA) ; Diep; Dan
Han; (San Gabriel, CA) ; Ahmed; Samir M.;
(Glendale, CA) ; Shartzer; Lee Douglas; (Valencia,
CA) ; Bishop; John Frederick; (Santa Monica, CA)
; Booth; James Earl; (Burbank, CA) ; Tran; Hao
Chi; (El Monte, CA) ; Lee; Peter S.;
(Calabasas Park, CA) ; Walker; Mark Leroy;
(Castaic, CA) ; Pettigrew; David; (San Francisco,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Pickesrsgill; Jason Douglas
Gudorf; Gregory
Rudman; Kenneth Alan
Nadzakov; Vasil
Yoon; Andrew
Yeh; Roger
Badawiyeh; Basil
Pinvidic; Genevieve Marie
Forte; Dana Shawn
Diep; Dan Han
Ahmed; Samir M.
Shartzer; Lee Douglas
Bishop; John Frederick
Booth; James Earl
Tran; Hao Chi
Lee; Peter S.
Walker; Mark Leroy
Pettigrew; David |
Los Angeles
Sunland
South Pasadena
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
San Marino
Santa Clarita
Burbank
Castaic
San Gabriel
Glendale
Valencia
Santa Monica
Burbank
El Monte
Calabasas Park
Castaic
San Francisco |
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA |
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Thomson Licensing
Issy de Moulineaux
FR
|
Family ID: |
46314410 |
Appl. No.: |
13/993987 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
December 21, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US11/66420 |
371 Date: |
January 27, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61426509 |
Dec 22, 2010 |
|
|
|
61429741 |
Jan 4, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/765 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 16/4387 20190101;
G06F 16/444 20190101; G11B 27/105 20130101; G11B 27/034 20130101;
G06F 3/04842 20130101; G06F 2203/04806 20130101; G06F 3/04883
20130101; G06F 3/0484 20130101; G06F 3/0482 20130101; G06F 3/0485
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/765 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/0482 20060101
G06F003/0482 |
Claims
1. A method for displaying a user interface comprising the steps
of: generating a plurality of cards for a display area; allowing
cards from the plurality of cards that reside in a locked zone to
be moved in a vertical direction; restricting cards from the
plurality of cards that reside in a regular zone from being moved
in a vertical direction; and allowing all of the cards from the
plurality of cards that reside in the display area to be moved in a
horizontal direction.
2. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional step of
subjecting only the cards in the locked zone to a user action.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the user action is at least one
of: cutting the cards' content, pasting content to the cards,
enlarging the contents of the cards, and shrinking the contents of
the cards.
4. The method of claim 1 comprising an additional step of
determining which card from the plurality of cards reside in a
locked zone, wherein the determining step includes at least one of:
determining whether the card completely resides in a locked zone,
where part of the card resides in the locked zone, determining
whether 50% of a card resides in the locked zone, and determining
whether a predetermined amount of the card resides in the locked
zone.
5. The method of claim 1 comprising the additional steps of:
allowing a card from the plurality of cards that previously resided
in a regular zone, after being moved in a horizontal direction
after a user command, which now occupies the locked zone to be
moved in a vertical direction, while restricting a card from the
plurality of cards that previously occupied the locked zone which
now resides in the regular zone from being moved in a horizontal
direction, after being moved horizontally after the same user
command.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the locked zone is specified in
response to a user command.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the locked zone occupies at least
two areas in the display area.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the regular zone occupies at
least two areas in the display area.
9. A device for displaying a user interface comprising: a means for
generating a plurality of cards for a display area; a means for
allowing cards from the plurality of cards that reside in a locked
zone to be moved in a vertical direction; a means for restricting
cards from the plurality of cards that reside in a regular zone
from being moved in a vertical direction; and a means for allowing
all of the cards from the plurality of cards that reside in the
display area to be moved in a horizontal direction.
10. A method for displaying a user interface comprising the steps
of: generating a plurality of cards for a display area; allowing
cards from the plurality of cards that reside in a locked zone to
be subjected to a user action; and allowing all of the cards from
the plurality of cards that reside in the display area to be moved
in a horizontal direction.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the user action is at least one
of: cutting the cards' content, pasting content to the cards,
enlarging the contents of the cards, and shrinking the contents of
the cards.
12. The method of claim 10 comprising an additional step of
determining which card from the plurality of cards reside in a
locked zone, wherein the determining step includes at least one of:
determining whether the card completely resides in a locked zone,
where part of the card resides in the locked zone, determining
whether 50% of a card resides in the locked zone, and determining
whether a predetermined amount of the card resides in the locked
zone.
13. The method of claim 10 comprising the additional steps of:
allowing a card from the plurality of cards that previously resided
in a regular zone, after being moved in a horizontal direction
after a user command, which now occupies the locked zone to be
moved in a vertical direction, while restricting a card from the
plurality of cards that previously occupied the locked zone which
now resides in the regular zone from being moved in a horizontal
direction, after being moved horizontally after the same user
command.
14. The method of claim 10 wherein the locked zone is specified in
response to a user command.
15. The method of claim 10, wherein the locked zone occupies at
least two areas in the display area.
16. The method of claim 10, wherein the regular zone occupies at
least two areas in the display area.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 61/426,509 filed Dec. 22, 2010 and U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/429,741 filed on Jan. 4, 2011,
which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to a user interface
for displaying multiple windows/cards. More particularly, the
present disclosure relates to a method for a user interface to
selectively restrict the movement of cards while allowing other
cards to be moved.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] When using a media device such as a media player or a
tablet, it is likely that a user will have multiple windows or
cards of content open at one time. When a user attempts to
manipulate such cards by initiating a gesture or some of command,
sometimes the user unintentionally causes a window/card to be
affected by the gesture even though the user meant the command for
a different card.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] A method is presented whereby a region in a display area is
designated as a locked region, where cards that reside in such a
region can be manipulated as a result of a command. Cards that do
not reside in the specified region are left alone when the command
is issued.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] These, and other aspects, features and advantages of the
present disclosure will be described or become apparent from the
following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which
is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
[0006] In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote
similar elements throughout the views:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary system for
delivering video content in accordance with the present
disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary set-top
box/digital video recorder (DVR) in accordance with the present
disclosure;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary display device
in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the use of a
gestures for a sensing controller or touch screen in accordance
with the present disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a first card
user interface of the present disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a second card
user interface of the present disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a first
manipulation of a card user interface of the present
disclosure;
[0014] FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an second
manipulation of a card interface of the present disclosure;
[0015] FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a first
manipulation of multiple card interfaces when present on a display
device in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0016] FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a second
manipulation of multiple card interfaces when present on a display
device in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0017] FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a first
manipulation of multiple card interfaces when present on a display
device in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0018] FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of second
manipulation of multiple card interfaces when present on a display
device in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0019] FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate exemplary embodiments of the
placement of a locked zone in a display area in accordance with the
present disclosure;
[0020] FIGS. 15-17 illustrate exemplary embodiments of the
operation of a locked zone in restricting the manipulation of
multiple cards in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0021] FIGS. 18-20 illustrate exemplary embodiments of restricting
the effect of a command for cards that do not reside in a locked
zone in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0022] FIGS. 21-22 illustrate exemplary embodiments of having
several cards overlaying a locked zone in accordance with the
present disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 23 presents a flow chart for determining cards to be
restricted from movement in a user interface in accordance with the
present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The present disclosure provides several different
embodiments of a user interface that is used for receiving,
recording, playing back, purchasing, and the like media such as
videos, television shows, movies, audio, music, video games, and
the like. Such a user interface can be implemented on devices such
as a computer, set top box, media server, tablet, mobile phone,
personal media, device, portable video game system, video game
system, and so forth.
[0025] The present disclosure provides several different
embodiments of a user interface that is used for receiving,
recording, playing back, purchasing, and the like media such as
videos, television shows, movies, audio, music, video games, and
the like. Such a system can be implemented on devices such as a
computer, set top box, media server, tablet, mobile phone, personal
media, device, portable video game system, video game system, and
so forth.
[0026] Turning now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of an embodiment of a
system 100 for delivering content to a home or end user is shown.
The content originates from a content source 102, such as a movie
studio or production house. The content may be supplied in at least
one of two forms. One form may be a broadcast form of content. The
broadcast content is provided to the broadcast affiliate manager
104, which is typically a national broadcast service, such as the
American Broadcasting Company (ABC), National Broadcasting Company
(NBC), Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), etc. The broadcast
affiliate manager may collect and store the content, and may
schedule delivery of the content over a deliver network, shown as
delivery network 1 (106). Delivery network 1 (106) may include
satellite link transmission from a national center to one or more
regional or local centers. Delivery network 1 (106) may also
include local content delivery using local delivery systems such as
over the air broadcast, satellite broadcast, or cable broadcast.
The locally delivered content is provided to a media device 108 in
a user's home, where the content will subsequently be searched by
the user. It is to be appreciated that the media device 108 can
take many forms and may be embodied as a set top box/digital video
recorder (DVR), a gateway, a modem, etc. Further, the media device
108 may act as entry point, or gateway, for a home network system
that includes additional devices configured as either client or
peer devices in the home network.
[0027] A second form of content is referred to as special content.
Special content may include content delivered as premium viewing,
pay-per-view, or other content otherwise not provided to the
broadcast affiliate manager, e.g., movies, video games or other
video elements. In many cases, the special content may be content
requested by the user. The special content may be delivered to a
content manager 110. The content manager 110 may be a service
provider, such as an Internet website, affiliated, for instance,
with a content provider, broadcast service, or delivery network
service. The content manager 110 may also incorporate Internet
content into the delivery system. The content manager 110 may
deliver the content to the user's media device 108 over a separate
delivery network, delivery network 2 (112). Delivery network 2
(112) may include high-speed broadband Internet type communications
systems. It is important to note that the content from the
broadcast affiliate manager 104 may also be delivered using all or
parts of delivery network 2 (112) and content from the content
manager 110 may be delivered using all or parts of delivery network
1 (106). In addition, the user may also obtain content directly
from the Internet via delivery network 2 (112) without necessarily
having the content managed by the content manager 110.
[0028] Several adaptations for utilizing the separately delivered
content may be possible. In one possible approach, the special
content is provided as an augmentation to the broadcast content,
providing alternative displays, purchase and merchandising options,
enhancement material, etc. In another embodiment, the special
content may completely replace some programming content provided as
broadcast content. Finally, the special content may be completely
separate from the broadcast content, and may simply be a media
alternative that the user may choose to utilize. For instance, the
special content may be a library of movies that are not yet
available as broadcast content.
[0029] The media device 108 may receive different types of content
from one or both of delivery network 1 and delivery network 2. The
media device 108 processes the content, and provides a separation
of the content based on user preferences and commands. The media
device 108 may also include a storage device, such as a hard drive
or optical disk drive, for recording and playing back audio and
video content. Further details of the operation of the media device
108 and features associated with playing back stored content will
be described below in relation to FIG. 2. The processed content is
provided to a display device 114. The display device 114 may be a
conventional 2-D type display or may alternatively be an advanced
3-D display.
[0030] The media device 108 may also be interfaced to a second
screen such as a touch screen control device 116. The touch screen
control device 116 may be adapted to provide user control for the
media device 108 and/or the display device 114. The touch screen
device 116 may also be capable of displaying video content. The
video content may be graphics entries, such as user interface
entries, or may be a portion of the video content that is delivered
to the display device 114 The touch screen control device 116 may
interface to media device 108 using any well known signal
transmission system, such as infra-red (IR) or radio frequency (RF)
communications and may include standard protocols such as infra-red
data association (IRDA) standard, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and the like, or
any other proprietary protocols. Operations of touch screen control
device 116 will be described in further detail below.
[0031] Optionally, media device 108 and touch screen control device
116 can be integrated into the same device. Examples of these media
devices with a touch screen include computers, laptops, cell
phones, personal media player, MP3 players, personal desk
assistants, tablet devices, digital video recorders, and the like.
For purposes of the this specification, the term media device 108
can encompass all of these type of devices with set top boxes,
digital video recorders, gateway devices, and the like.
[0032] In the example of FIG. 1, the system 100 also includes a
back end server 118 and a usage database 120. The back end server
118 includes a personalization engine that analyzes the usage
habits of a user and makes recommendations based on those usage
habits. The usage database 120 is where the usage habits for a user
are monitored and information about such usage habits is stored. It
is possible to use such user habit information to develop a profile
for a user which is then used for recommending advertisements and
programming. In some cases, the usage database 120 may be part of
the back end server 118. In the present example, the back end
server 118 (as well as the usage database 120) is connected to the
system the system 100 and accessed through the delivery network 2
(112).
[0033] Turning now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of an embodiment of a
media device 200 is shown. Receiving device 200 may operate similar
to the media device described in FIG. 1 and may be included as part
of a gateway device, modem, set-top box, or other similar
communications device. The device 200 shown may also be
incorporated into other systems including an audio device or a
display device. In either case, several components necessary for
complete operation of the system are not shown in the interest of
conciseness, as they are well known to those skilled in the
art.
[0034] In the device 200 shown in FIG. 2, the content is received
by an input signal receiver 202. The input signal receiver 202 may
be one of several known receiver circuits used for receiving,
demodulation, and decoding signals provided over one of the several
possible networks including over the air, cable, satellite,
Ethernet, fiber and phone line networks. The desired input signal
may be selected and retrieved by the input signal receiver 202
based on user input provided through a control interface or touch
panel interface 222. Touch panel interface 222 may include an
interface for a touch screen device. Touch panel interface 222 may
also be adapted to interface to a cellular phone, a tablet, a
mouse, a high end remote or the like.
[0035] The decoded output signal is provided to an input stream
processor 204. The input stream processor 204 performs the final
signal selection and processing, and includes separation of video
content from audio content for the content stream. The audio
content is provided to an audio processor 206 for conversion from
the received format, such as compressed digital signal, to an
analog waveform signal. The analog waveform signal is provided to
an audio interface 208 and further to the display device or audio
amplifier. Alternatively, the audio interface 208 may provide a
digital signal to an audio output device or display device using a
High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable or alternate
audio interface such as via a Sony/Philips Digital Interconnect
Format (SPDIF). The audio interface may also include amplifiers for
driving one more sets of speakers. The audio processor 206 also
performs any necessary conversion for the storage of the audio
signals.
[0036] The video output from the input stream processor 204 is
provided to a video processor 210. The video signal may be one of
several formats. The video processor 210 provides, as necessary a
conversion of the video content, based on the input signal format.
The video processor 210 also performs any necessary conversion for
the storage of the video signals.
[0037] A storage device 212 stores audio and video content received
at the input. The storage device 212 allows later retrieval and
playback of the content under the control of a controller 214 and
also based on commands, e.g., navigation instructions such as
fast-forward (FF) and rewind (Rew), received from a user interface
216 and/or touch panel interface 222. The storage device 212 may be
a hard disk drive, one or more large capacity integrated electronic
memories, such as static RAM (SRAM), or dynamic RAM (DRAM), or may
be an interchangeable optical disk storage system such as a compact
disk (CD) drive or digital video disk (DVD) drive.
[0038] The converted video signal, from the video processor 210,
either originating from the input or from the storage device 212,
is provided to the display interface 218. The display interface 218
further provides the display signal to a display device of the type
described above. The display interface 218 may be an analog signal
interface such as red-green-blue (RGB) or may be a digital
interface such as HDMI. It is to be appreciated that the display
interface 218 will generate the various screens for presenting the
search results in a three dimensional gird as will be described in
more detail below.
[0039] The controller 214 is interconnected via a bus to several of
the components of the device 200, including the input stream
processor 202, audio processor 206, video processor 210, storage
device 212, and a user interface 216. The controller 214 manages
the conversion process for converting the input stream signal into
a signal for storage on the storage device or for display. The
controller 214 also manages the retrieval and playback of stored
content. Furthermore, as will be described below, the controller
214 performs searching of content and the creation and adjusting of
the gird display representing the content, either stored or to be
delivered via the delivery networks, described above.
[0040] The controller 214 is further coupled to control memory 220
(e.g., volatile or nonvolatile memory, including RAM, SRAM, DRAM,
ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), flash memory, electronically
programmable ROM (EPROM), electronically erasable programmable ROM
(EEPROM), etc.) for storing information and instruction code for
controller 214. Control memory 220 may store instructions for
controller 214. Control memory may also store a database of
elements, such as graphic elements containing content, various
graphic elements used for generating a displayed user interface for
display interface 218, and the like. Alternatively, the memory may
store the graphic elements in identified or grouped memory
locations and use an access or location table to identify the
memory locations for the various portions of information related to
the graphic elements. In addition, various graphic elements can be
generated in response to computer instructions interpreted by
controller 214 for output to display interface 218. Additional
details related to the storage of the graphic elements will be
described below. Further, the implementation of the control memory
220 may include several possible embodiments, such as a single
memory device or, alternatively, more than one memory circuit
communicatively connected or coupled together to form a shared or
common memory. Still further, the memory may be included with other
circuitry, such as portions of bus communications circuitry, in a
larger circuit.
[0041] Optionally, controller 214 can be adapted to extract
metadata from audio and video media by using audio processor 206
and video processor 210, respectively. That is, metadata that is
contained in video signal in the vertical blanking interval,
auxiliary data fields associated with video, or in other areas in
the video signal can be harvested by using the video processor 210
with controller 214 as to generate metadata that can be used for
functions such as generating an electronic program guide, have
descriptive information about received video, supporting an
auxiliary information service, and the like. Similarly, the audio
processor 206 working with controller 214 can be adapted to
recognize audio watermarks that may be in an audio signal. Such
audio watermarks can then be used to perform some action such as
the recognition of the audio signal, security which identifies the
source of an audio signal, or perform some other service.
Furthermore, metadata to support the actions listed above can come
from a network source which are processed by controller 214.
[0042] Turning now to FIG. 3, the user interface process of the
present disclosure employs an input device that can be used to
express functions, such as fast forward, rewind, etc. To allow for
this, a tablet or touch panel device 300 (which is the same as the
touch screen device 116 shown in FIG. 1 and/or is an integrated
example of media device 108 and touch screen device 116) may be
interfaced via the user interface 216 and/or touch panel interface
222 of the receiving device 200. The touch panel device 300 allows
operation of the receiving device or set top box based on hand
movements, or gestures, and actions translated through the panel
into commands for the set top box or other control device. In one
embodiment, the touch panel 300 may simply serve as a navigational
tool to navigate the grid display. In other embodiments, the touch
panel 300 will additionally serve as the display device allowing
the user to more directly interact with the navigation through the
grid display of content. The touch panel device may be included as
part of a remote control device containing more conventional
control functions such as activator buttons. The touch panel 300
can also includes at least one camera element. As described in
further detail below, content displayed on the touch panel device
300 may be zapped or thrown to the main screen (e.g., display
device 114 shown in FIG. 1).
[0043] Turning now to FIG. 4, the use of a gesture sensing
controller or touch screen, such as shown, provides for a number of
types of user interaction. The inputs from the controller are used
to define gestures and the gestures, in turn, define specific
contextual commands. The configuration of the sensors may permit
defining movement of a user's fingers on a touch screen or may even
permit defining the movement of the controller itself in either one
dimension or two dimensions. Two-dimensional motion, such as a
diagonal, and a combination of yaw, pitch and roll can be used to
define any four-dimensional motion, such as a swing. A number of
gestures are illustrated in FIG. 4. Gestures are interpreted in
context and are identified by defined movements made by the
user.
[0044] Bumping 420 is defined by a two-stroke drawing indicating
pointing in one direction, either up, down, left or right. The
bumping gesture is associated with specific commands in context.
For example, in a TimeShifting mode, a left-bump gesture 420
indicates rewinding, and a right-bump gesture indicates
fast-forwarding. In other contexts, a bump gesture 420 is
interpreted to increment a particular value in the direction
designated by the bump. Checking 440 is defined as in drawing a
checkmark. It is similar to a downward bump gesture 420. Checking
is identified in context to designate a reminder, user tag or to
select an item or element. Circling 440 is defined as drawing a
circle in either direction. It is possible that both directions
could be distinguished. However, to avoid confusion, a circle is
identified as a single command regardless of direction. Dragging
450 is defined as an angular movement of the controller (a change
in pitch and/or yaw) while pressing a button (virtual or physical)
on the tablet 300 (i.e., a "trigger drag"). The dragging gesture
450 may be used for navigation, speed, distance, time-shifting,
rewinding, and forwarding. Dragging 450 can be used to move a
cursor, a virtual cursor, or a change of state, such as
highlighting outlining or selecting on the display. Dragging 450
can be in any direction and is generally used to navigate in two
dimensions. However, in certain interfaces, it is preferred to
modify the response to the dragging command. For example, in some
interfaces, operation in one dimension or direction is favored with
respect to other dimensions or directions depending upon the
position of the virtual cursor or the direction of movement.
Nodding 460 is defined by two fast trigger-drag up-and-down
vertical movements. Nodding 460 is used to indicate "Yes" or
"Accept." X-ing 470 is defined as in drawing the letter "X." X-ing
470 is used for "Delete" or "Block" commands. Wagging 480 is
defined by two trigger-drag fast back-and-forth horizontal
movements. The wagging gesture 480 is used to indicate "No" or
"Cancel."
[0045] Depending on the complexity of the sensor system, only
simple one dimensional motion or gestures may be allowed. For
instance, a simple right or left movement on the sensor as shown
here may produce a fast forward or rewind function. In addition,
multiple sensors could be included and placed at different
locations on the touch screen. For instance, a horizontal sensor
for left and right movement may be placed in one spot and used for
volume up and down, while a vertical sensor for up down movement
may be place in a different spot and used for channel up and down.
In this way specific gesture mappings may be used. A two finger
swipe gesture may be utilized to initiate the throwing or moving of
content from the tablet 300 to the main screen or display device
114.
[0046] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a window
interface known as a card, where various applications are presented
within such a card interface. For example, live television guide
application that represents different television listings are
presented within card interface 500. That is, the card functions as
a window that displays a representation of the application being
run. Such cards can be presented on a device including a tablet, a
media player, a phone, a monitor, a computer, and any other device
that has a display. Cards can represent different applications such
as electronic program guides, playlists, social media interfaces,
games, video, audio, web pages, browsers, rendered media services,
and the like.
[0047] Returning to card interface 500, cell 510 displays
information about a television show, in this example an
infomercial, being broadcasted on a broadcast channel called Comedy
Central. Play control 512 when activated using a gesture will cause
a tuner in a device such as a set top box, tablet, television, and
the like, to tune to a requested channel. Graphic 515 such as a
logo comports to the broadcast channel that can be tuned to by
activating play control 512. Cell 520 displays information for a
television show called The Night Listener which is being
broadcasted on American Movie Classics (AMC) which is indicated by
graphic 525. If a user wants to tune to AMC, play control 522 can
be activated with a gesture. The result of the activation of play
controls 512, 522 leads to the outputting of a tuned channel to a
display or recording device.
[0048] FIG. 6 is an exemplary embodiment of a card interface 600
for another application that represents different media assets
(video, audio, pictures, and the like) that are available for
playback. Specifically, such media assets can be stored in a
content source such as local storage medium, a remote storage
medium, an on-demand media service such as video on demand, over
the top media service, and the like, where a media asset is
delivered to a media device when requested. For example, in
response to the activation of play control 612, the media asset
Nacho Libre as indicated by cell 610 can be played back using the
exemplary architecture as described for FIG. 1. Similarly, a media
asset identified as African White Rhino in cell 620 can be played
when play control 622 is activated with a gesture.
[0049] Graphics 612 and 625 represent thumbnails, poster art, logo,
icon, and the like that are used to identify a media asset whereby
graphic 612 represents Nacho Libre while graphic element 625
represents African White Rhino. Such graphics can be linked to a
media asset by an association made by a user, program guide
information that specifies a particular graphic, a screenshot from
a media file, and the like.
[0050] FIG. 7 is an exemplary embodiment of a card interface 700
that is manipulated by a gesture or an action by an input device.
Card interface 700 has a display area 705 which is the part of the
card or window that can be viewed. Sometimes there may be more
elements where a card may have more elements than can be displayed
in display area 705 at one time. For example, cell 710 is not
displayed for card interface 700 while cells 720, 730, 740, 750,
and part of cell 760 are viewable in display area 705.
[0051] Cards can be manipulated in a vertical direction using a
gesture or control input, where cells that are displayed are
capable of being shown in response to such a gesture of control in
an up or down motion. When card interface 800 from FIG. 8 is
subjected to a downward gesture and/or control input, as an
manipulation, display area 705 will show cell 710, while cell 760
is moved down so far as not to be viewable. Likewise part of cell
750 is not displayed in response to the downward gesture/control
input. Cells 750 and 760 can be viewed again in display area 705 if
one operates card interface 800 in an upward gesture, as a
manipulation, to yield the arrangement of cells shown in card
interface 700.
[0052] FIG. 9 is an exemplary embodiment of user interface 900 of a
device that presents multiple card interfaces. In this illustrative
embodiment, display area 910 displays multiple cards 920, 930, and
940 which can be manipulated in a horizontal direction in response
to a gesture and/or control input, where part of card 940 is not
displayed in display area 910. If one manipulates display area 910
towards the left with a gesture/control input, the result is shown
in FIG. 10 for user interface 1000 where card 940 is completely
shown in display area 910 while part of card 920 is not displayed.
If one were to move display area 910 to the right with a
gesture/control input, the result is shown in FIG. 9, where card
920 is completely shown in display area 910 while part of card 940
is not displayed.
[0053] FIG. 11 displays an alternative embodiment of a multiple
card interfaces shown in user interface 1100 that is subjected to a
manipulation. Specifically, cards 1120, 1130, and 1140, are shown
in display area 1110. These cards in response to a gesture/control
input in the right direction will result in user interface 1200
shown in FIG. 12. That is, user interface 1200 shows that cards
1120 and 1130 are moved to the right, as to show a new card 1150 in
display area 1110. If display area 1110 in FIG. 12 is moved to the
left in response to a gesture/control interface, card 1150 will not
be displayed while card 1120 becomes visible in display area 1110
as shown in FIG. 11.
[0054] FIG. 13 displays an illustrative embodiment of implementing
a locked zone feature in accordance with the presented principles.
A locked zone is a region selected by a user where various cards or
windows overlapping that region are capable of being manipulated in
certain ways, while cards not overlapping that region are
restricted. It is intended that a card will not be restricted if
part of the card resides over the locked zone, although the
principles of disclosure can also be implemented where a card must
completely reside in a locked zone in order to be able to be
manipulated.
[0055] In the present illustration 1300, a display area 1310 has
locked zone 1320 in the center while areas 1330 are regular zones
and at the edges of display area 1310. FIG. 14 shows a user
interface 1400 where locked zone 1320 was expanded in a vertical
direction in response to a gesture/control interface activated by a
user. Also in response to the user action, regular zones 1330 were
reduced in area. Likewise, a locked zone 1320 can also be reduced
in response to gesture/control interface activated by a user,
whereby regular zones 1330 can be expanded. The detection of
overlapping cards and regions are capable of being performed using
typical video detection techniques. In addition, controller 214
when outputting a video signal would recognize the location of
objects in the video signal that is generated.
[0056] It is noted, that locked zone 1320 does not need to be
always rendered in a displayed area 1310. That is, when a user is
resizing locked zone 1320 in response to a gesture/input signal,
locked zone 1320 can be displayed for the duration of such a
resizing operation. After the resizing operation is completed, the
background of display area 1310 returns to normal, even though the
locked zone 1320 is still present. Alternatively, locked zoned 1320
can always be displayed as part of display area 1310 in a form as
shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.
[0057] FIG. 15 presents an embodiment of a user interface 1500 with
three cards 1340, 1350, and 1360 which occupy display area 1310. In
this example, cards 1340 and 1360 occupy regular zones 1330, while
card 1350 overlaps locked zone 1320. Card 1350 can be moved in a
down direction as shown in FIG. 16 and/or in an up position. In
contrast, cards 1350 and 1370 are restricted in being moved in a
vertical direction, because these cards are locked in position by
occupying regions 1330.
[0058] FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a user
interface 1700 where cards can still be moved in a horizontal
direction as shown where cards 1350 and 1360 are moved towards the
right. Hence, by occupying locked zone 1320, card 1360 can now be
moved in an up direction, new card 1370 and card 1350 are
restricted from being moved in a vertical direction.
[0059] FIGS. 18-20 also demonstrate an alternative embodiment of
the use of the locked zone feature. In FIG. 18, an exemplary
embodiment of the disclosure as a user interface 1900 is shown
where cards 1340, 1350, and 1360 show a graphic. Cards 1340 and
1360 occupy regular zones 1330, while card 1350 is shown as
residing over locked zone 1320. When an enlarge/zoom function
gesture/control input is applied to a device, the results are shown
in FIG. 19 which represents an exemplary embodiment 1900 of a user
interface. By occupying locked zone 1320, card 1350 has the graphic
shown expanded in response to the zoom command, while cards 1340
and 1360 stay the same size.
[0060] FIG. 20 of an illustrative embodiment 2000 shows the results
of a minimize/reduce command in response to a gesture/control input
where by occupying locked zone 1320, card 1350 has the displayed
graphic reduced in size. Cards 1340 and 1360 again stay the same
size in response to the minimize command because such cards overlay
regular zones 1330. Other commands can be utilized where only cards
residing in a locked zone are affected by such commands including
color correction, cropping of a graphics, selection of areas for a
cut/paste operation, and the like.
[0061] FIGS. 21 and 22 demonstrate user interfaces where several
card interfaces occupy a locked zone. Specifically, FIG. 21 is a
view of a user interface 2100 that has two cards 1350 and 1360
occupying locked zone 1320. In contrast, card 1340 is situated over
regular zone 1330. In this configuration, cards 1350 and 1360 may
be manipulated in a vertical direction as shown in user interface
2200 in FIG. 22, while card 1340 cannot be manipulated in an
up/down direction. Cards 1340, 1350, and 1360 however can still be
moved in a horizontal direction regardless of whether the cards
reside over a locked zone or regular zone.
[0062] FIG. 23 presents a flow chart 2300 for determining cards to
be restricted from movement in a user interface in accordance with
the present disclosure. Method step 2305 is for generating a
plurality of cards/windows for display in a display zone. The
generation of the cards can be done in accordance with the
description described above for FIGS. 5-12, in other places in the
specification, as in accordance with the described principles
herein.
[0063] Step 2310 determines which cards from the plurality of cards
that are in display zone in a locked zone. This step determine
which cards are going to be able to be manipulated by a user in
response to a user gesture/command while other cards which reside
in the regular zone will not be affected by the user instruction.
As explained earlier, it is expected that sometimes cards will
partially reside over a locked zone and other parts of the card
reside over a regular zone, whereby a decision can be made to treat
cards that have any part of such cards reside over a locked zone
will be affected as if the card completely resided in the locked
zone. Alternatives to this approach can be that a card must
completely reside in a locked zone in order to be subjected to a
user action, more than 50% of a card must reside in a locked zone
in order to be subjected to a user action, or another preset value
as a percentage of a card must reside in a locked zone in order for
the card to be affected by a user action.
[0064] In step 2315, the cards that are determined to reside over a
locked zone will be capable of being moved in a vertical direction
(up/down). Likewise, in step 2320 the cards that are determined to
reside in a regular zone (or not residing in the locked zone) will
be restricted from being moved in a vertical direction. Step 2325
provides that cards that reside in the locked zoned can be
subjected to a user operation including cutting the card's
contents, pasting to the card, enlarging the contents of the card,
shrinking the contents of the cards, and the like. Hence, the user
operation in this step will only affect cards in the locked zone,
while leaving cards in the regular zone alone.
[0065] In step 2330, all of the cards from the plurality of cards
will be capable of being moved in a horizontally (left or right).
That is, a card that resided in a locked zone can be moved to a
regular zone, while the card that was adjacent to the moved card
can now occupy the locked zone (see FIGS. 16 and 17).
[0066] It should be understood that the elements shown in the FIGS.
may be implemented in various forms of hardware, software or
combinations thereof. Preferably, these elements are implemented in
a combination of hardware and software on one or more appropriately
programmed general-purpose devices, which may include a processor,
memory and input/output interfaces.
[0067] The present description illustrates the principles of the
present disclosure. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled
in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that,
although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the
principles of the disclosure and are included within its scope.
[0068] All examples and conditional language recited herein are
intended for informational purposes to aid the reader in
understanding the principles of the disclosure and the concepts
contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be
construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited
examples and conditions.
[0069] Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles,
aspects, and embodiments of the disclosure, as well as specific
examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and
functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that
such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well
as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements
developed that perform the same function, regardless of
structure.
[0070] Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those skilled
in the art that the block diagrams presented herein represent
conceptual views of illustrative circuitry embodying the principles
of the disclosure. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow
charts, flow diagrams, state transition diagrams, pseudocode, and
the like represent various processes that can be substantially
represented in computer readable media and so executed by a
computer or processor, whether or not such computer or processor is
explicitly shown. The computer readable media and code written on
can be implemented in a transitory state (signal) and a
non-transitory state (e.g., on a tangible medium such as CD-ROM,
DVD, Blu-Ray, Hard Drive, flash card, or other type of tangible
storage medium).
[0071] The functions of the various elements shown in the figures
may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as
hardware capable of executing software in association with
appropriate software. When provided by a processor, the functions
may be provided by a single dedicated processor, by a single shared
processor, or by a plurality of individual processors, some of
which may be shared. Moreover, explicit use of the term "processor"
or "controller" should not be construed to refer exclusively to
hardware capable of executing software, and may implicitly include,
without limitation, digital signal processor ("DSP") hardware, read
only memory ("ROM") for storing software, random access memory
("RAM"), and nonvolatile storage.
[0072] Other hardware, conventional and/or custom, may also be
included. Similarly, any switches shown in the figures are
conceptual only. Their function may be carried out through the
operation of program logic, through dedicated logic, through the
interaction of program control and dedicated logic, or even
manually, the particular technique being selectable by the
implementer as more specifically understood from the context.
[0073] Although embodiments which incorporate the teachings of the
present disclosure have been shown and described in detail herein,
those skilled in the art can readily devise many other varied
embodiments that still incorporate these teachings. It is noted
that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in
the art in light of the above teachings.
* * * * *